Dispenser for washing apparatus



April 3, 1962 J. w. JACOBS DISPENSER FOR WASHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 12, 1959 III-III- I'll" fili l Pa v t INVENTOR. James W Jacobs w His Af/omey April 3, 1962 J. w. JACOBS DISPENSER FOR WASHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12. 1959 mm m M. om

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INVENTOR. James W Jacobs All BY His Atfqmey April 3, 1962 J. W. JACOBS DISPENSER FOR WASHING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 12. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I |1e- I86 I '82 I84 I lse I I92 I97 I90 INVENTOR. James W Jacabs His Attorney United States Patent Oflflce 3,628,051 patented Apr. 3, 1962 Delaware Filed Nov. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 852,561 Claims. (Cl. 222-41) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to an improved dispenser for a dishwasher.

The quantity of detergent necessary to provide an effective cleaning result in dishwashers depends on both the hardness of the water used in the cleaning process as well as the soil condition of the dishes or utensils to be washed. In the prior art the required amounts of detergent was handled in the instructions to the user by setting forth certain conditions under which selected quantities of detergent were recommended. This method still required the use of auxiliary measuring devices and left a lot to the users discretion. It is an object of this invention to provide a dispenser which may be automatically conditioned for a correct quantity of detergent in accordance with a preselection of both water hardness and dish soil.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a dispenser having a variable capacity.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a washing apparatus dispenser having a first wash dispensing compartment and a second wash dispensing compartment, the volume of both being variable in accordance with a preselection of water hardness and soil condition of the items to be washed.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a twocompartment dispenser wherein one of said compartments is electrically openable and both of said compartments are variable in capacity.

A more specific object of this invention is the provision of a two-compartment dispenser adapted for mounting on a horizontally pivotally mounted dishwasher door wherein one of said compartments is selectively openable and both of said compartments have flexible diaphragm means for varying the capacity of said compartments.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic side sectional viewof a dishwasher suitable for use with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top elevational view with parts broken away to show the flexible diaphragm and its operating means;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view partly in elevation taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2 showing the relationship of the adjacent dispensing compartments;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIGURE 2 to illustrate the means for selectively opening one of said compartments;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 3 to show the operation of the flexible diaphragm;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of this invention having a single variable capacity compartment capacity conditioned by concentrically threadedly engaged selector knobs;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of the selector knobs taken along line 7 in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view taken along line 88 in FIGURE 5 with parts broken away to show the diaphragm operating plate tabs for engaging the fast lead double-screw thread.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURE 1, a dishwasher 10 is schematicaly set forth. The dish-Washer 10 is comprised of a casing 12 which defines a dishwashing chamber 14 having a front opening 16. The bottom of the dishwashing chamber 14 is closed by a bulkhead or bottom wall 18 which has a depressed or sump area 20 in a central portion thereof. The sump leads to a pump 22 which is operated by a motor 24. With in the dishwashing chamber 14 a rotatably mounted spray tube 26 is positioned and interconnected with the pump 22 by way of a conduit 28. Interposed in the fluid stream between the spray tube and the pump is a diverter valve 30 which may be selectively energized to direct the output of the pump either to the spray tube 26 or to a drain line 32. Water may be admitted to the sump 20-by means of a water valve '34, and a heater 36 is included in the sump for drying the dishes at the conclusion of the dishwashing cycle and for maintaining the temperature of the water during the dishwashing cycle.

The front opening 16 of the dishwashing chamber is closed by a door 38 which is hingedly mounted at 40 so that the door may be placed in a vertical position as shown for closing the dishwashing chamber and in a horizontally disposed position for loading the dishwasher. A conventional timer 42 is included in the door for selectivelyand sequentially operating the water valve 34, the pump motor 24, the heater 3-6 and the diverter valve 30 in a conventional dishwashing cycle. Since it is desirable to add a washing agent or detergent to the water in the sump 20 during separate portions of the dishwashing cycle, the dishwasher I0 is provided with a two-compartment dispenser shown generally at 44. As FIGURE 1 is schematic, the dispenser 44 has been rotated from its correct position in order to show an uncovered first washing agent compartment chamber or cup 46 and a covered second washing agent compartment chamber or cup 48. When the dishwasher door 38 is in its horizontally disposed position, a washing agent such as a detergent may be placed within the compartments 46 and 48 to be sequentially dispensed during the dishwashing cycle. The first compartment 46 will be emptied of its detergent due to gravity and the fact that water spraying from the nozzle or spray tube 26 will enter the compartment 46 to wash the detergent therefrom. The second compartment 48 is closed and is provided with a lid or cover 50 which may be sequentially opened during another subsequent portion of the dishwashing cycle. It should be noted generally that the compartment 48 is sheltered from the jets of water sprayed by tube 26 during the first wash portion of the cycle so that the Washing agent therein may be available later on in the cycle. The prior art devices did not provide the needed degree of flexibility and convenience which is a prerequisite to successful appliance appeal today. Thus it is the purpose of this invention to provide a dispenser 44 with a selector knob 90 which can be positioned in accordance with the hardness of the water being dispensed through the valve 34 and further in accordance with the soil of the dishes to be disposed in the baskets 35 within the dishwashing chamber.

Reference may now be had to FIGURES 2 and 3 for a complete description of the dispenser 44. The dispenser is comprised of a plastic body portion or frame 54 having a first generally rectangular opening 56 which defines the length and width of the first detergent compartment or cup 46. Similarly, the plastic body of the dispenser is provided with a second generally rectangular opening 58 which defines the length and width of the second detergent compartment or cup 48. On the bottom side of the dispenser body or frame 54 is a rubber diaphragm 60 which has a first bowl-like portion 62 underlying the opening 56 for the first detergent compartment and a second 3 bowl-like portion 64 which underlies the opening 58 of the second compartment. The diaphragm 66 is flexible and determines the capacity of the compartments 46 and 48 by the spacing of the diaphragm in relationship to the frame 54. For assembly, the diaphragm 66 is provided with an attachment flange 66 which substantially circumscribes both the diaphragm bowl-like portions 62 and 64 and lies in juxtaposition to the bottom side of the dispenser body or frame 54. A diaphragm retainer frame 68 places the diaphragm fiange 66 in sandwiched relationship with the underside of the dispenser body 54. Fastening means such as 70 may be used to draw up the retainer and, thus, provide a water-tight seal between the body portion 54 of the dispenser and the flexible diaphragm 60. Thus, it may be seen that two open-end compartments or cups are formed for holding variable amounts of washing agenteither the same agent or different substances. The circumscribing walls of the openings 56 and 58 cooperate with the bowl or cup forming diaphragm portions 62 and 64, respectively, to define the two detergent compartments 46 and 48. These compartments are made variable in capacity as will be described more fully next following.

The variable adjustment feature of this invention as it applies to the capacity of the two compartments is best shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. Underlying the flexible diaphragm 6% is a diaphragm operating plate 74 having a first compartment portion 76 underlying the first diaphragm portion 62 and a second operating plate portion 78 underlying the second compartment diaphragm portion 64. Each plate portion 76 and 7 3 is generally rectangular in configuration to conform to the contour of the openings 56 and 53. Protuberances St) and 32 project through openings 83 in the operating plate portions 76 and 78, respectively, to retain the diaphragm on the operating plate 74. Note that the dimensions of the operating plate portions 76 and 78 are slightly less than the dimensions of the dispenser compartment body openings 56 and 58 to allow the flexible diaphragm to reverse bend as at 84 during its capacity varying movement.

FEGURE 5 shows the dispenser body portion 54 with a drilled or molded aperture 86 through which an adjusting knob shaft 88 is adapted to extend. The shaft carries at its one end an adjusting knob 90 and on its other end a double lead screw thread portion 92. A snap ring 94 is fitted into a slot in the shaft 38 to prevent the shaft 88 from shifting axially within the frame opening 86 between the control knob 9d and the snap ring. Similarly, a snap ring 96 prevents the diaphragm operating plate from falling off the shaft 88. As the knob 90 is rotated, he threaded portion 92 is rotated relatively to the diaphragm operating plate 74. A centrally depressed portion 98 of the operating plate is perforated at 100 (see FIGURE 8) in a manner to leave two tabs 102, 1% extending radially into the aperture 100. These tabs are canted r bent slightly oppositely in conformance with the slope of the threads 93, 95 and, thereby provide follower means which ride in their respective screw threads 93 and 5. With the rotation of knob 96, the operating plate 74 is motivated from its lowermost or largest capacity position shown in solid in FIGURE to its upper or least capacity position shown in phantom line. The dial of the knob 90 may be marked as shown in FIGURE 2 so that one dial will suffice for the selection of both water hardness and dish soil. With the diswasher loaded with soiled dishes, the knob 9% is provided with a heavy soil selector arrow 106 and a light soil selector arrow 108. About the periphery of the knob 90 on the frame portion 54 of the dispenser are lettered indications 110 pertaining to the degree of water hardness available for the dishwasher. The arrow on the knob 96 indicative of dish soil is positioned opposite an indication of water hardness to adjust the proper amount of detergent capacity needed.

The second Wash compartment 48 is adapted to be closed during the first wash portion of the dishwashing cycle. For this purpose, a metallic lip 50 is hingedly carried on a pin 112 extending between raised boss portions 114, 117 on the detergent body 54. A torsion spring 116 is positioned with one leg 118 bearing against the underside of the lid 50 and a second leg 119 extending into a boss or protrusion 120 depending from the under side of the frame 54. Thus, the door or compartment lid 50 is biased constantly by the spring 116 toward an open position. A resilient protuberance or bumper 124 is snapped into an opening in the lid 50 and adapted to cushion the lid 51 as it flies open against the inner panel 39 of the door 38 on the dishwasher.

It is desirable that the second compartment 58 be exposed to the dishwashing chamber 14 only after the first wash period and at the beginning of the second wash period. For this reason an actuating mechanism has been provided as shown more fully in FIGURE 4. The body portion 54 of the dispenser supports a pair of pole pieces 126, 128 in juxtaposition to the metallic underside of the compartment lid 56. On the side of the dispenser body opposite the lid 50, the body is formed with an aperture 130 through which a magnet 132 extends. When the magnet 132 is in the position shown in FIGURE 4, the magnetic field is transmitted to the pole pieces 126, 128. If the lid 50 is pressed into its closed position, it will be magnetically retained in a closed position so long as the magnet 132 remains in a position between the pole pieces 126 and 128. Thus, to open the second wash detergent compartment 48, it is necessary that the magnet 132 be withdrawn from the opening 130 in the dispenser body. For this purpose an actuating link 134 is pivotally connected to the magnet 132 and is attached at its opposite end to a bimetallic actuator 136. At one end of the bimetal 136 is an electrical spade 138 which may be connected in any conventional fashion to the electrical control system of the dishwasher 10. The bimetal and its energizing spade 138 are carried on a support member 140 which is fastened as by welding at 142 to the diaphragm retainer 68. Note that the bimetal assembly is electrically insulated from the rest of the dishwasher 10 in view of the insulating qualities of the flexible diaphragm 69 and the plastic frame 54. Whenever the control circuitry of the dishwasher 10 conditions the electrical spade 138 for energization, the bimetal 136 will flex to withdraw the magnet 132 from between the pole pieces 126 and 128. As this is accomplished, the ability of the pole pieces 126 and 128 to attract the metallic lid 50 is lost and the spring-biased nature of the cover or lid 50 will cause it to pivot into an open position exposing the second detergent compartment 48 to the dishwashing chamber 14.

It is desirable to prevent washing fluid or water from entering the second compartment 48 during the first Wash portion of a dishwashing cycle. For this reason the dispenser body portion or frame 54 is formed with a ledge 146 which overlies the second compartment 5-8 and its cover 50 whenever the door 38 of the dishwasher is in a vertical position. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the ledge or sill 146 overlies the inturned flange of the lid 50 and deflects water flowing downwardly along the inner surface of the door 38 around the outer surface of the lid. Any moisture or water droplets which do get under the ledge 146 and around the inturned flange of the lid 50 are directed around the compartment 48 by way of the outwardly flanged edges 156 of the pole piece support member or extension 152. Also cooperating in this water deflecting characteristic is a peripheral flange 154 which circumscribes the opening 58 to the compartment 48. Water that does get under the cover or lid 50 will be deflected from the compartment 48 in this manner and the detergent or washing agent placed therein will be kept relatively dry until it is exposed to the dishwashing chamber 14 by the energization of the bimetal 136 to cause the opening of the lid St). The bottom edge of each opening 56 and 58 is chamfered as at 158 and 160 to aid in washing the detergent or washing agent from the compartments whenever they are exposed to the spray action of the rotary spray tube 26.

In operation, the dishwasher door 38 is opened for loading and to place the dispenser 44 in a horizontal position to expose the dispensing compartments 46 and 48. The operator will rotate the knob 90 in accordance with the arrow 106 or 108 which is indicative of the soil condition of the items to be washed. This arrow will be pointed at one of the water hardness indications 110 in accordance with the hardness of the available water. The rotation of the knob 90 will cause the threads on the knob shaft to position the operating plate 74 in accordance with the soil condition and water hardness setting. This rotating action will position the flexible diaphragm 60 to prescribe a given volume for the compartments 46 and 48. Detergent is then poured into these two compartments-the amount being determined by the position of the diaphragm 60. After this, the lid 50 is closed held thereby by the magnetic action of the pole pieces 126 and 128. The dishwasher door 38 is closed and the control cycle started as by a timer mechanism 42. The detergent or washing agent will fall from the compartment 46 into the dishwashing chamber 14 or more particularly into the sump 20 thereof. The spray action of the rotatable tube 26 will wash any remains from the compartment 46 during the first wash portion of the dishwashing cycle. At the conclusion of the first wash period and after the first rinsing action, the timer 42 will position control circuitry to energize the bimetal 136 as the dishwashing cycle proceeds into the second wash portion of the cycle. This energization will cause the bimetal 136 to flex, thereby withdrawing the magnet 132 from between the pole pieces 126 and 128. This action will demagnetize the contact of the pole pieces at the lid 50 and the lid will spring open to expose the contents in compartment 48 to the jet action of the spray tube 26. Thus, the detergent in the second compartment will be dispensed at the proper interval in the dishwashing cycle.

A second embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 and essentially defines a dispenser 170 having a single open-ended compartment 178 variable in capacity. In this dispenser a body portion 172 of plastic or other suitable material is provided with an actuating mechanism compartment 174 closed by a panel 176 which extends into or behind the dishwasher inner door panel 39. A dispensing compartment 178 defined by an opening 180 in the dispenser body 172 cooperates with a flexible diaphragm 182. An operating plate 184 substantially similar in configuration to but slightly smaller than the opening 180 backs up the diaphragm 182. For actuating the operating plate 184 a spring-leaf adjuster 186 is fastened as at 188 to a portion of the dispenser body 172. The dispenser body is formed with an opening at 190, the opening being threaded at 192 to receive a knob 194 relating to water hardness. A second knob 196 is threadedly nested within a tapped opening 197 in the center of the knob 194 and is directed to soil selection of the dishes to be washed. Note that the movement of either knob 194 or 196 positions an adjustment rod portion 198 of knob 196 which bears against the spring leaf adjuster 186. As the knob 194 is positioned or rotated clockwise to indicate a harder water, the spring leaf adjuster 186 is moved rightwardly to increase the capacity of the compartment 178. Similarly, the clockwise rotation of the soil selector knob 196 will further increase the capacity of the compartment 178. As taught hereinbefore, a metallic lid 200 is biased by a spring 202 which opens the lid 200 whenever a magnet 204 is withdrawn by a selectively electrically energized bimetal 206 from between the pole pieces 208 and 210.

It should now be seen that a detergent or washing agent has been provided wherein compartments are provided which become selectively effective to dispense their ingredients at desired portions of the control cycle. A flexible diaphragm is utilized to form one portion of the compartments, thereby to make these compartments variable in capacity in accordance with an adjustment effected by the operator in advance of the controlled washing cycle;

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A dispenser for a horizontally pivotally mounted washer door comprising, a dispenser body having a first opening and a second opening, a spring-biased cover for said second opening, a flexible diaphragm connected to said openings to form a first and second compartment with said dispenser body, a diaphragm operating plate having a first portion adjacent said first opening and a second portion adjacent said second opening, said portions being in juxtaposition to said flexible diaphragm, and means for moving said diaphragm operating plate relative to said dispenser body to adjust the size of said first and second compartments.

2. In combination, a dispenser for a washing apparatus door movable between a vertical position and a horizontal position comprising, a dispenser body having a first opening and a second opening, a cover for said second opening, a flexible diaphragm having a portion thereof affixed to said openings to form a first and second com partment with said dispenser body, a diaphragm oper' ating member having a first portion adjacent said first opening and a second portion adjacent said second open ing, said portions being in operative relationship to said flexible diaphragm, and means for moving said diaphragm operating member relative to said dispenser body to adjust the size of said first and second compartments.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means for moving said diaphragm operating member includes a shaft journalled in said dispenser body, said shaft having a threaded portion threadedly connected to said operating member, an adjusting knob for rotating said shaft, said knob having a first indicator thereon for one washing condition and a second indicator thereon for a second washing condition, and indicating means on said dispenser body for cooperating with one of said indicators.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said dispenser body is provided with a protrusion overlying said second compartment when said door is in its vertical position to deflect washing fluid from said second compartment.

5. A dispenser for a washing apparatus comprising a body member having an opening, a flexible diaphragm circumscribing said opening and cooperating therewith to form an open-end compartment, a spring-leaf adjuster connected to said diaphragm, first adjusting means threadedly engaging said dispenser body member for positioning said diaphragm in accordance with a first condition, second adjusting means threadedly engaging said first adjusting means and connected to said spring-leaf adjuster for positioning said diaphragm in accordance with a second condition, a spring-biased normally open metal door for closing said opening, a pair of pole pieces carried by said body member in juxtaposition to said door, and a magnet selectively insertable between said pole pieces to retain said door in a closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,446,336 Mark et a1. Aug. 3, 1948 2,538,695 Mathis Jan. 16, 1951 2,762,527 Manley Sept. 11, 1956 2,868,006 Tingley Ian. 13, 1959 

